John Donegan – Pianist, Composer, Bandleader
John Donegan is a UK-based jazz pianist and composer originally from Cork, Ireland. Known for his modern jazz style infused with Irish folk influences, his music has been featured on BBC, Jazz FM, RTÉ, and numerous independent radio stations across the UK and Ireland.

John has performed alongside celebrated international artists such as Art Blakey, Art Farmer, Barney Kessel, Louis Stewart, and Greg Abate. His artistry draws inspiration from jazz legends like Bill Evans, Kenny Barron, Wynton Kelly, and Keith Jarrett. With performances spanning France, Spain, Portugal, and even New York’s iconic Birdland, John has solidified his reputation as a dynamic presence on the jazz stage.

As a prolific composer, John has released a series of critically acclaimed albums. His double-CD suite Siamsa, Vol. 1 & 2 received praise for its blend of bebop and Irish folk melodies. His 2019 release A Kite for Kate, dedicated to his youngest daughter, showcased his melodic ingenuity and earned glowing reviews, including a four-star rating from The Jazz Mann.

In recent years, John has focused on creating new material with The Irish Sextet. Their 2023 release Shadows Linger was lauded as “a straight-ahead album of vintage calibre” (Jazzwise), while its follow-up Light Streams further cemented his reputation for crafting compelling, melodic compositions. Both albums received four-star reviews in Jazzwise and The Jazz Mann, with critics praising the group’s energy, soloists’ panache, and Donegan’s compositional flair. A third album featuring special guest guitarist Hugh Buckley is set to release in late 2024.

John’s versatility extends to cross-genre projects, including the Aontacht Suite (Unity), blending jazz, classical, and traditional Irish influences for sextet, string quartet, and solo violin. His ongoing work reimagining pieces by Chopin and John Field has been performed to critical acclaim, with plans to expand and record these in the near future.

Throughout his career, John has released nine albums, with more projects in the pipeline, including a trio album recorded in France. His music is available on all major platforms, including Bandcamp, Spotify, and iTunes.

For more updates, follow John Donegan Jazz on Facebook and Instagram, or visit his website johndoneganjazz.com.